Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
by Heather Sommer

I was playing Suikoden 3, my favorite RPG thus far (and that’s 18 years), and noticed something: Even though Chris is a main character – and female – our relationship lacks a certain depth.

Maybe it’s because her name is spelt “Chris” and not lengthened to something feminine. Maybe it’s because Hugo’s story hit me with more emotion, Geddoe’s with more intrigue and that left her story to hit me with the backstabbing and double-crossing of politicians. Maybe, just maybe, it is because hearing that a main character is female forced me to put impossible expectations on the game. Unfairly.

Then again, why are such high expectations impossible? Technology is improving at frightening rates. The graphics are evolving to the point where I develop crushes on anime characters. The audio tracks are enough in Eternal Darkness to give me nightmares. Even plots aren’t dragging, as one could imagine they might with such a focus on the aesthetics of video gaming.

Somehow, female characterization got left behind. When I first started writing this, it was more of a rant. Men in the industry. Chauvinistic pigs. Tight tank tops. Falling in love. Then I realized that that is unfair. I think the problem could be simple.

You see, Yuna (FFX) and I - we don’t jive. Rikku (FFX) – she and I would probably fight to the death. And she, in all her youth, spunk and skimpy clothing, would kick my rear-end to Chisha Village. And there, the Silver Maiden (Suikoden 3) and I would convene to reach the conclusion that the gaming industry hasn’t yet come to.

Women aren’t interested. This is broad, I realize, and probably going to alert all the feminists who do play Suikoden 3, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy’s older siblings to my presence. But let me explore this with you. Women aren’t interested, generally speaking. The industry is largely male. The fan base is largely male. I speak merely from personal experience.

I helped organize and run an anime and gaming convention the past couple of years. There were video game rooms, DDR tournaments, Soul Caliber competitions, Dead or Alive duels – obviously not too many RPGs, but video games, nonetheless. The rooms were packed during the entire convention. Packed with about 4 females and about 24 males. At any given time the ratio was approximately the same.

Tailoring plots to females is not the key. Going easy on the combat, toning down the monsters, writing captivating music or developing gorgeous scenery is not going to draw me to a game, and it is doubtful it would draw anyone else to it, either. For the 40-some hours it would take to play it, that is. Raising Gruntys in .HACK Infection or Mutation or Outbreak is not making my maternal instinct rise from its grave and purchase the game. MOMO (Xenosaga) may be cute, but her magic attacks are a little Sailor Moon for me. KOS-MOS is where it’s at, the closest to a strong female I’ve seen in a while. And she’s a weapon.

The stunning conclusion? Girls like to play the same games boys do. Girls, however (and generally), do not care to set the breast-buoyancy levels of characters, wear skirts all the time, have armor fitted to include a C-cup, fall in love with every beautifully rendered male they come across or sing. Not in a game. We want to kick butt, cast and kill, explore and not read character dialogue revolving around love interests, raising a family or being rescued or too afraid to go on.

What do girls want? We want to play with the boys.

more power to ya

The video game industry has been aimed at the male audience for almost 20 years now, and I don't think it's going to be changing anytime soon unless some kind of miracle occurs. The majority of girls are more interested in talking on the phone, hanging out with friends, shopping, and dating.

You see, that I don't agree with. Many females are interested in gaming and video gaming, I notice, but seem to be scared away from it or disinterested because of the material now out.

Most of the females I know, even if I am not friends with them, are interested in things as this. Even if they don't seem like they are. I was very surprised to find certain girls in my class interested in playing fighting games, for example, at a gaming club lock-in. They did not, however, attend because of the large male turnout that was expected.

*shrugs* Just an idea.

its a nice thought to think more girls would play if there was different content.. but I honestly dont think it would happen. None of my girl friends like to play games very much. They'll try them out but they lose interest quickly. What would you expect a girly game to be about anyways? Just female lead characters? I dont really know what would gear a game towards guys or girls, to me it really depends on personal interests. I guess for that matter, mmorpg's would be as unisex as games get. Theres shopping, talking, hanging out at eachothers houses, female lead characters, all the things a girl could want in a game. And for boys.. and girls too to a lesser extent... theres fighting and armor and weapons and killing of little animals and stuff. However the girls in mmorpgs are still extremely outnumbered, Id say its a minimum 75% guy to 25% girl ratio.

I don't think the content should be geared towards women, perse, but definitely remember that a game isn't made up of breast-buoyancy or just music or just graphics.

And one of the years of GenCon the male to female ratio was 76%:24%. So I definitely agree with your estimate, ninjakitten. I hope it has gotten better, but I highly doubt it. :-/

I don't know - maybe it is the group of girls I befriend. Even the ones that don't seem interested at least give it a shot, though, and do enjoy it to some degree.

Okay, just a little confused here.

You said



right?

Yet you do not like the way we play? Then why do you wanna play with us? Sounds less like you wanna play the games guys play and more like you want to change them into games you want to play.

I'll agree some of the bust sizes in the games and the skimpy clothing is marketed toward the guys. But let me reverse it just a little. What about the guys in the games? There are no average or below average looking guys (unless it is vital to the story "ugly duckling syndrome"), and no scars do not count. There are girls that like males characters as much as some of the guys like the girls characters.

Games are about fiction. No one wants to play a game about an average person doing average things (Sims be damn!!!). So looks, along with abilities and plots, are purposely exaggerated.

Also keep in mind most guys do not play games for the way the female characters look, they play the game to play the game.

The main point here has already been made, male gamers out number female gamers. And game makers will target the bigger audience. I do not think changing game content will get more female players. I know some female gamers, but most girls would prefer to do other things than playing video games. I propose one theory, in intro to pysch I read a book that implied women tend to be more social creature then men. (You have to admit we operate differently, regardless of whether you belive the last statement or not.) Well, gaming ,especially RPGs, are a solitary endeavor. Just an idea.

None of the above is intended to cause any friction, between people or the sexes. Just some observations from a gamer, who doesn want to cuase any trouble .

I do agree that females tend to be more social creatures (and I took that class, too!) and that somehow marketing certain games as "social" games would possibly attract more females. That's a very valid point and one I hadn't thought of I like the way you think, sir! *lol*

I have *tons* of male friends and I *love* playing video games (and table-tops) with them - minus the occasional chauvinistic remark, usually made to make me throw a pencil at them. I do enjoy playing games with males - as I do with females. That comment was meant to imply that games as Britney Spears Dance Party (or whatever) or software packs as Cosmopolitan Makeover (while I do want it, for different reasons) are not the only things girls are interested in. (But not discounting that some girls do prefer and do enjoy these things.)

I think that women and the gaming industries is a very interesting topic to look at in-depth. Without causing further rifts between the genders, that is.

And, Chris is alright, don't get me wrong.

I agree. There's nothing wrong with girls playing video games. I could probably say that 2/3 of my friends are guys. We're always at my place playing either RPGs or at the arcade playing DDR *we're all hooked lol* And just a little something to add, whoever thinks video games are only for guys...are well, very badly mistaken. Games are for everyone, no matter what the sex, no matter what the age *with, a few exception XP you get what I mean*

Any time there is a strong female charecter in rpgs they turn out getting captured.
(luna and lucia from the lunar series, terra and celes from ff6, and that girl from xenogears. they either get captured or leave the story. Giving time for people to see the side of the male hero. This sucks for giving empowerment to girls in vidieo games but suffice for the male urge to be the hiro and mascalent.

It would be nice to see a girl as a hero in an rpg just to see the hero fantasy from a female perspctive.


Just not in our Final Fantasy

I'm a girl and i love video games! It would be nice to see a female hero in an Rpg!

Well written and could possibly be the motivation for me to start writing editorials again.

A couple of criticisms of course. Up until the last paragraph I was trying to figure out what they emphasis of the editorial was supposed to be on. I thought either "Girls should play more games" or "Games should be targeted more at girls". The end result I was left with was as you said "Girls like to play the same games boys do". With that said, if you like the games the way they are, why bother trying to alter the cup sizes of the females? No one complains that all the male charaters are buff and ripped with the epitome of a masculine physique. Thats just the way it is really. You play a good looking guy character and he has a good looking female character. Would you want to play a game in which the characters are ugly? I dont think that will make much of a difference

End result, good points but dont fix what really isnt broken.

Thanks, NovaZ, for the critique. And you *should* write again - I was reading your stuff.

And I think that viewing an RPG universe from the female perspective would be incredibly fun - and might even work well for certain companies and their lust for the green ... *winks* ... AND it would be different.

There are some good points made in this topic. I dont actually personally know any girls that play videogames, but ive seen them at arcades and stuff. I think its cool to see a woman kicking but in capcom vs snk 2 or being a dead on shot on time crisis. But in regards to females being kinda wimpy or always having to be rescued by male characters while it does happen alot, it doesnt necessarily happen all the time. For instance Xenosaga episode 1, the main character was pretty much Shion, you saw the story through her eyes, and she was a very indepentend female character. Or even in Disgaea Etna, a female demon, has Laharl wrapped around her finger. So i guess all i am saying is that while yes the videogame industry is largely aimed at males, there are some games starting to pop out with some strong independent female characters.

ps great topic FaErY

I like your post FaErY.
When I played Suikoden 3, Chris was the one character that I saw as the main character. Here personality was for me the one I liked the best. I didn't really care if she was male or female. For me, she was the flame champion.
And she wasn't the stereotype female main character that needs to be rescued every second. Her story appealed to me the most, so I chose her.
I didn't chose to follow her path mainly because she was female. She was just Chris. The silver maiden. But her being female was still a part of it though.


And when KOS-MOS was created, it seems it didn't really matter if she was female or not, but I think that it does. You mentioned that she is a weapon but she seems to be far more then that. She's one of my favorite characters of all time because of her style and the way she acts, and of course also the way she looks. It would be a lie to deny that one of the things that draw us to anime or videogame characters is the way they are presented physically. But that's not all of it.
I would love it if more girls liked video games as much as guys do. But at least it seems to have gotten somewhat better, these last couple of years.
Guys wants good feminine characters as much as girls do, but when the industry is looking the way it is today, we can only make do with what we've got.

So what do the boys want?
We want to play with the girls.

Well, maybe you are right about it. Girls should get more shares... There's only a little Game for girls out there.

Well, I don't exactly think that there should be any games that are COMPLETELY directed for the female audience/gamers. Because, I can't exactly say this for any rpgs, but look at all those barbie, marie kate and ashley etc...games out there...they're terrible. games are for both girls and boys, and it should stay that way.

All games shouldn't be completly directed for the female audience/gamers, or male. Games should be directed to both girls and boys. Makes it more interesting.

I agree. Well-spoken, Darkaqua.

The games that do seem to be solely marketed towards females are marketed, it seems largely, to young females. Barbie, Mary Kate and Ashley Olson titles, Britney Spears dance games - it's sad the lack of quality in these titles for young girls. Even they need something worth playing! Though I almost did pick up the GBA Barbie game, out of sheer curiosity... :-/

[COLOR=gray]
Nice topic. Females can play video games. We could all learn things from video games, if only they were made with the vertue to leave a message, namely of life, to the gamer. Girls like messages. To me, there could be more to playing video games than just having fun and spending time. Most of the time, the most appreciated video games are the ones the gamers can somehow identify themselves to. Sometimes the characters can be inspiring to the gamer, for example Cloud from ff7, or Squall from ff8. Sometimes it's the atmosphere that the gamer trusts she/he would feel good in, for example Kingdom Hearts' as an rpg, or Volleyball Extreme as a sports game, or Gran Turismo as a racing game. I believe the reason why there is a bigger male audience to video gaming, is because has more hold on that particular sense of emotion than the female, and tend to live more in their imagination rather than in reality, contrarily to the girls. So if the girls saw more reality in games, meaning the reality that reaches deep within the being of a person, so that the person can somehow identify to the game, video games would interest more girls.

i agree with queen but there arn't games that r totaly directed towards boys either

That was totally kickass. I'm a guy, and a huge rpg gamer, who only enjoys playing with the girls. I must admit that I find a voiced opinion like this very refreshing. Games like Parasite Eve etc. show real girlpower, and I just don't know why more females don't get into gaming.

Score for you.

That's the best thing I've ever read. I won't agree with you on Yuna, although. Yuna is a wonderful character. BUT I was soooo ticked at her new 'hot-boys'll-drool' outfit. IT MADE ME SO MAD! I agree, Girls want to play too! They want to be treated the same way! They want to be the heros, the rescuers, not the rescuee (don't think that's a word...*heh*). I love video games. Yes, I know boys even in my class who play for the kick butt and the hot gals, but not me! The storys get me here *pound chest* and I HATE it when female characters are taken all the wrong way. Take Lorielle (Ephemeral Fantasia) for example. My best friend flipped out when she saw her outfit! My mom plays video games with me. She's looking forward to FFX-2 as much as I am and she flipped out when she saw Yuna's new outfit!!! *sigh* I'm dreading the day she sees Rikku's..........but anyway, I appreciate that very much. That is a topic I've been ranting about for quite a while too! Write more protests! YAY!
-Kumo

Actually there are alot of games that seem to be directed at one sex at first, but then somehow attract the other. I mean look at FFX-2. Main characters are Yuna, Rikku, and Paine (if that's how you spell it) Sure it makes you think of the whole girl power kicking ass thing, but actually, there are alot of guys out there who either

a. find the girls very attractive, so buy the game
b. would much rather use a female character than a guy *i know ALOT of people who are like this*

so really, dont' judge the game until you play it, not that i'm saying any of you out there are. It's just a thing that i've been hearing lately about ffx2, thought i'd bring it up

And you have a good point - though I do not feel the FF girls are as strong as they could/should be, I do know that having female leads of any sort are a point of attraction for both men and women.

My male friends like playing as female characters, for various reasons. One, of course, being b/c they are cute. Others being that it is just something different. Having a female hero (hero through and through, not just part time) would attract all sorts of gamers, I think.

I am interested to see just what FFX2 has in store for us.

I think i agree with you there. When i saw that quote the game Tomb Raider popped into my mind. Honestly from a logical point of view( not just cuz im a guy)
I think that tomb raider was supposed to be one of these games, having the main character as a strong, independent woman. I think what happened with that game was origionally it was meant as a game to appeal to a women audience. Perhaps it didnt appeal to women as much as Eidos had hoped so it had the designers do some *cough* anatomy adjustments. I mean Lara maintains that strong female independence but she was obviously designed to appeal to the male audience. I think unless a much larger group of women voices complaints things are gonna be pretty slow to change. I think until this happens we will keep seeing the same games, women being shown as weak and drawn with certain physical traits exaggerated. Although women are making progress in becoming equal to the guys( in the workplace or in the military(in the US atleast im not sure about other places in the world)) As long as companys see the statistics of which gender or age range is purchasing their product, they will continue to advertise and produce items to which group is going to give them the most money.

lets face it most video game creaters are guys and they do aim for guys if you want games to equally be for boys and girls then get more female game makers and as for Suikoden 3 ugh that game was horrible the first 2 are much better and have a much better story line after playing the first two I can safely say that number three was a dissappointment so many things changed it was like playing a whole new game I mean I loaded my Suikoden 2 data that didn't even really change anything in the game the whole thing was just a big waste of time and energy granted the characters them selves where pretty cool but I mean come on now Yuber is suppose to be a Dark Knight like in the first 2 but no he dresses like a priest in nuber 3 and instead of being an interdimensional Black Knight he's a demon they get rid of Victor and Flik which sucks they added two viki's the cut out the female hunter that is looking for the sindar ruins and they even change sindar too cindar I mean come on you get bad guys on the tablet of destiny personally I find that game to be a big dissappointment if it weren't for the fact that it's called Suikoden 3 I'd have sold it already because the storyline sucked the characters where ok but storyline sucked and that column style fighting system really sucked graphics are nothing if the gameplay sucks which in Suikoden 3 it kinda does even the war sections suck if you really want to play a good suikoden game play 1 or 2 because they are alot better the main characters aren't girls but their are enough girls in the game to make a complete party (not including the main character) of girls and as for girl character in a game well having tested this in fighting games the male characters tend to be slower but more power full then the females using fewer hits to inflict damage where as most female characters are fast and much more effective because you can jump in get lot of good fast shots and get back out before your opponent can hit back so there is an upside to both guys are strong but slow while girls are fast but lack in strength I prefer the girls personally because it's much easier to obtain a victory by avoiding being hit and striking back rather then just getting beat up and getting on good solid shot with a male character not sure if anyone else noticed that or even tried too but I did

Well, I do agree about using/playing as female characters in fighting games. In DoA:[all], I use Lei Fang, Kasumi, etc. Helena and Tina have pretty hard hits, if you can do them - but they do lack a little more in the speed. As for males, Zach and Jann Lee have more speed than some of the other males (and Jann Lee's blind elbow attack is just insane!) ... I just tend to go for the quick ones, b/c I am not that great at said games. :-/

But I try!

Oh, and in Tekken (4 or Tag?) I use the Capoeira girl. She rocks. Christie, I think is her name.

First off I would like to congratulate totw for how he was able to take up a good half of his reply by bitching about Suikoden 3. I personally have never played the game (Or any of it's predacessors for that matter as when I bought the first one my sister stepped on it before I had the chance to play it, blasted; but anywho where was I?) Oh yes, well done totw.

Now as to the purpose of my reply. This was a very interesting topic to read over, and FaErY and everyone else, including totw who I had a poke at earlier, had excellent points, so I hope mine are just as endowed with greatness.

First off, as a male gamer who has been among the like for as long as his mind can comprehend, I can tell you right now the way a character has looked asthetically has NEVER altered my likeness for a game, I mean I loved Tomb Raider when I was but 11, before I even thought girls were nice and fun to look at! And even when I grew older and continued to play the game ( I am now a proud, horny, 17 year old "dude") It still doesn't matter as you're staring at Laura Croft's back for 99% of the game, not her chest which I admitt is far to large for anyone to look attractive in. So any off that garbage that a games popularity is due to the asthetic looks of a main/playable character can go down the bottomless pit along with the Dreamcast counsel which didn't even go out in flames, it was just snuffed out like a candle. (Booh yeah two similies in one sentence, my english teacher would stream tears with pride)

Next, what I failed to read when I read the main story which was masterfully crafted and all of it's replies which were for the most part equally interesting to read, was that even thought female characters don't allways perform in the main spot light; they are allways playing incredibley important supporting roles. From what I could gather from Final Fantasy Eight (Which in my opinion was not that great of a Final Fantasy game, but still worthy of mention as an RPG) was that the woman that had that funky assed bow that would shoot out and offer a pathetic shot to the enemy then return to her mini balista located on her arm (I really cannot rememeber the name and I don't care to research it up, sorry) affected Squal's character greatly and he wouldn't have much background and theory to him without the said woman. This was just one example out of at least a dozen that one could create to support my theory that female (And male) characters are very important towards other characters development even if they don't have starring roles Like Squal held, or the discussed Chris from Suikoden 3, or Noa from Legend of Legaia (My all time favorite RPG, which sadly I saw no one speak of)

Just a suggestion FaErY, perhaps the weakness of Chris's character was due to the weakness of the people who created her, or perhaps just plain oversight; mistakes happen all to often.

It's a sad truth that the video game market is dominated by young, teenage males who have a severe hard on for animated woman figures. Now don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy looking at attractive women, but I see no attraction in what is essentially a cartoon, even thought nowadays with systems like the PS2/Game Cube/New super space mutant powerful computer systems that created the insanely realistic characters of Final Fantasy: Spirits Within/X-Box the characters are looking more and more like living breathing humans, creepy and kick ass at the same time. But even so, reality can get boring and fantasizing about the animated world is amusing to slip into once in a while; just not about slipping into bed with the characters. Sad truth indeed .

Totw, I seem to be picking on you quite a bit, you said and I do quote you on this "lets face it most video game creaters are guys". Do you have any actual proof of this statement? I thought not .

Female hero's are just as kick ass as male hero's, I see no difference and I don't see how anyone else should, unless they seem to think that what happens in the video game world mirrors what happens in our own.

Now I could drag this on FOREVER as the size of this reply is reaching critical mass, so I will end this quickly; I can hear the cheers already .

I'd just like to say that I agreed with everyone here on their points as they are their own and I respect that as I myself am putting my opinion out for the public to pick apart; but I also disagreed with much of it, which I am sure anyone with anysense will understand and respect.

I must say again this was one lovely topic FaErY, hope you come up with more masterfully crafted articles like it.

Toodles to you all, I look forward to INTELLIGENT responses to this, Adios les amigos! (I think I had my spanish right)

~Alex~

"I know you hate me, and I don't care"

Thanks Faery! I can't wait for FFX-2, I hope it's as good as the first. I love Final Fantasies! ^^

Wonderful response to that, Alex! I played Tomb Raider when I was little, with my dad, I've played 50% of the games I have with my dad... Anyway...to another point of mine. I appreciate Game Girls like Virginia in Wild Arms III. She's tough! And Doesn't let ANYONE mess with her! On the other hand, I'm dissapointed with Maya, who put girls to a bad name.

I think, Alex, the girl in FFVIII you are reffering to is Beatrix, although I may be wrong. I don't like her at all either...she makes me barf...

Now here's the funny thing my friends always comment on...The girls are more often than not overly hot. The boys sometimes end up looking like girls!!! I've fallen to this curse as well when making up characters...Agreed? Sepiroth for example ((Not dissing him, I'm a Seph fan as well...)) his hair is LONG! At first glance...I thought he was a girl! ((I'm new to the FFVII world, although I played it with my dad when I was 5, I just bought it and am playing it through again LOL and I'm a proud 12 yrs old now! *hehe*))

Another sad thing is some girls play for the hot guys. Sad huh? I've not fallen under this spell, although I am a huge Clive (WA3), Tidus (FFX), Cloud (FFVII), and Mouse (Ephemeral Fantasia) fan. This is a very controversial subject, and all have argued it very acurately. I rest me case...and may come back later. LOL. Bet you're all tired of my now, eh? So, Fare the well!

~Kumo

i just wanted to say i loved suikoden 3 i liked final fantasy x but less so because it didn't really feel like a real rpg because it was so linear... ah well anyways thats my view...i personally like seeing female charachters besides lara croft being a main charchter/hero in a games especially rpg's.=)

Oops! Correction to myself. Beatrix is in FFIX...

I do agree that Clive from WA3 is attractive - and his story is the most interesting, save for Jet's. Personally I can't stand Virginia (I find her a little too reliant on everyone else, and a pushover when it comes to the "enemy" - but her character's growth is apparent, which is wonderful), and I think both Clive and Jet are prettier than she.

Alex! Great reply! Everyone, actually - it is GREAT having feedback and hearing what everyone has to say. It brings a tear to my eye (because I am overly sentimental ).

And about Lara Croft, NNTS (nothing nice to say). Well, her boots are cute. Good theory, poorly executed. Is all. And I do think it is funny that her back is what is mainly visible rather than her anatomy. Makes me laugh!

Pleased to know someone agrees with me about Clive, when my entire family prefers Janus or Jet. I don't have anything against Jet but Janus? I haven't finished WA3 yet but I can't wait to get further. Virginia does get me annoyed sometimes, but she has a strong will, which counts. Although, Clive and Jet are my favorite characters!

I hope you write more stuff like this Faery! I love arguments about Video Games.

I just thought i'd bring this up too. Any girls here play Starcraft? What i find annoying, is when someone finds out that you're a chick playing a game online, they'll try to get your number, msn or even directly try and cyber. it's annoying. i hate it! hate hate hate it! why can't we be treated equally as the guys?!

Funny StarCraft story: I was the secretary/random office member of my school's gaming club the one year it actually existed - and we pushed for StarCraft to be put on the machines so the guys (as I was the only female) could LAN/play via network.

Let me tell you, it doesn't take the anonymity of the internet to make men bold enough to flirt HEAVILY - and I was just a machine away!

I didn't see them flirting with each other. Lame. I could totally see that being a HUGE issue when playing online. I don't understand it - we're female, but just consider us one of the guys.

...Or better yet *sings Garbage's Androgyny*...

Hey, it's me again, I know I was missed *sniffle*; and I am pleased to see that my reply was taken the way I wanted it to be taken, thanks for letting me know the womans name Kumo Tayanii, I was relentlessly searching high and low for a identity and now I have found it! And thanks FaErY you're opinion matters . Onward!

Now for your recently brought up topic FaErY, I have a good starcraft story or two to tell, and there indeed is nothing like the anonymotity of the internet to create people bold enough to do such silly (And might I add truly annoying) instances like flirting/"cybering" (what's the deal with that anyways? Find someone real and leave me alone 'please')

I myself being an avid starcraft player who prides himself on how many accounts he has opened on that cursed Battle.Net, know what kind of environment you can run into there; at times it's not all to much fun. And I have observed that girls often are the brunt of this treatment, which without any exageration; pisses the hell out of me .

Girls should be treated equally, whether it has to do with either games or other factions of life such as school, by more men; we don't need any of this double standard crap, especially in this world of so called democracy we love so much

As I am now trailing from the topic, back to starcraft. Starcraft being the great game it is, attracts many people; great and bad alike, and we all who play online will eventually run into a undesireable individual who bothers us one way or another.

But should this really bother us? I mean come on they're just words being typed over to you by a stranger who has no real basis in any reality I could care about. It's obvious we enjoy playing our games or else we would not be talking about them in such a way as we are now, so I for one highly doubt that any number of these caliber of losers will prevent us from our gaming (Booh yeah who's with me? lol).

Anyways before I thoroughly embarrass myself, I should leave this topic where it is, as the squeak in my computer chair is annoying me beyond all telling of it *cringes* and I have to be at school in... less than 7 hours *ouch*. Goodnight to you all, I'm sure you will hear more of me to come.

~Alex~

"You can't hurt me, you're just figments of my alcohol induced imagination!"

P.S. Final Fantasy soon to be online, kick ass no?

*lol*

Starcraft wasn't me *points at Queen of Shiva* was ALL her idea!

True. Why does it bother us so much? Never really thought of it that way - mostly b/c it serves as a (poorly thought-out) distraction, I guess.

Yes! I play StarCraft! Online games tick me off in that sense... That's why I usually just play with my cousin, all he wants to do is kill me...Not gonna happen!

Whoopsies, seems I made an error *hangs head in shame *; the credit belongs to Queen of Shiva, not FaErY, for the starcraft/online gaming topic.

Yeah, that's basically what I do aswell Kumo Tayanii, play with people I actually know (ie. friends, or yes my one cool cousin lol) and we go into a private channel to talk and set up games and to avoid the general public, cause we are just to cool for them lol, making the starcraft expeirience that much better (Hazah!).

As I am trying with all my might to make this a short entry (They're normally really quite long aren't they? ) so I'm going to go now, toodles to you all!

~Alex~

Yeah you'd like her face now but wait till u see her in episode 2. She looks like *toot* *toot* *toooooooooooooot* oh btw i'm korean. Hey ho people!
And i agree by wat u all said. More rpg games now have more female heroes and female gamers should be thankful for that. Pretty soon there'll be an rpg game where the female heroes would be the one saving thier little prince from the big bad...... well whoever the baddie is and live happily ever. So just be patient and stop your whining! ehehe

umm how do u umm like ummm make changes to ur script ?? #####!

What's up? I get what you are saying about the male/female gaming ratio.
Most of the people I talk about games with are guys.
But, being the bad girl that I am, most of my best friends are boys !
I just saw your announcement and thought i'd reply.
the bell just rang!!! Gotta GO TO SPANISH!!!

i feel ya to some extent. im the most gaming girl i know, however im not bothered so much by the lack of female content in the gaming industry but more the lack of girls who seem to show interest in some of the more manly (stereotypically) genres out there. its hard to say because im not a normal chic whether or not the interest is low because so many girls have grown up on shopping, and chatting, and nail polish and such or whether it is because most girls are naturally not geared internally for interest in this stuff. i dont spout girl power and i hate little girly games. i like to play with the guys (most of my friends and closest of them are) on their level and actually would like that they not change the challenge and gear it toward me. games made for girls simply dont go over well (although many it seems arent made with effort put forth into it being made for a mature audience of ladies [aka everyone agrees they do suck]). all the same i find a lot of comfort in knowing that there are other chics out there like me who dont deny themselves and arent afraid to do what the guys do so kudos to all you ladies and keep hanging in there.

Why are all these....unregistered people posting?

Anyhoo, I could care less what people think about me playing video games.

I like things girls aren't (stereotipically) supposed to like...

I like fighting games. They're awesome!

I played DOAXVB. And liked it.

As for the content. Yes, most of it is more for guys....
but if you stop and think about it...
Who really gives a #### if it's a good game?

i lik resedent eval3
i love jill soooooo much and play FF
but FF8 is the best one ilik sifer soooooooooo much
and you???

Suikoden III's Chris is awesome!!! But you're right about her story. Some of my favorite female characters are Rynn from Drakan, the ladies of Final Fantasy, and Rose from Legend of Dragoon. I agree practically 100% about the whole not enough strong (and realistic) women in games. I am one of the only hard-core female rpg players that I know. A lot of my friends play them, but not quite as avidly as I do. I am a little sick of the huge breasted ladies whose breasts take on a life of their own, but I don't really want to go into a rant about that. I am just glad that someone has finally pointed this out, and I hope that some day there will be more strong female game characters. Until then... It will be the same ol' thing. To all fellow lady gamers: Rock on!

I don't understand. Preps in my class think i'm a nerd for liking games, and yet the guys think I"m cool as hell just cuz I know how to play street fighter. Why is it that in some cases, guys don't have anything against it, but yet they find it so AMAZING that us females know how to play the games?

I sefinetely agree with you. Everything you said was true. thanks for taking a stand